The 2018 Nissan Armada ranked #6 in Large SUVs. Currently the Nissan Armada has a score of 7.6 out of 10 which is based on our evaluation of 19 pieces of research and data elements using various sources.
Pros Strong V8 engine Good towing capacity Expansive second-row seats Well-built cabin
Cons Outdated infotainment system Below-average cargo space Below-average fuel economy Smaller front seats than rivals
Instead of imitating the boxy and costly stalwarts of this popular segment, the Armada breaks the mold—sort of. After all, it’s still a big-bodied, fuel-thirsty family dreadnought. But the three-row Armada has a serene, expensive interior and an upscale exterior that enable it to undermine high-rent rivals when it comes to price.
Pros Rich, comfortable, and quiet interior; useful power and towing capacity; looks expensive.
Cons Old-school fuel economy, no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, imprecise steering.
Nissan redesigned the Armada last year, so the 2018 model carries over with only minor changes. NissanConnect telematics services, an 8-inch touchscreen display, HD radio, hands-free text messaging, and additional USB charging ports now come standard on all trims. A rearview mirror that can stream a constant video feed from the rear camera is also new this year
PROS High-quality interior is appealing Smooth V8 engine delivers ample power for towing and hauling Rides more comfortably, less trucklike, than some rival SUVs
CONS Third-row seating isn't as spacious as some rivals Infotainment system is dated No getting around the V8's poor fuel economy
The first-generation Chevrolet Captiva offered buyers a lot of car for their money. It was a large, seven-seater SUV with powerful diesel engines and decent off-road capability thanks to its four-wheel-drive system. A facelift in 2011 brought revised looks and simplified the engine line-up down to just a single diesel. Two models are available: an entry-level, five-seat, two-wheel-drive version and a high-spec, seven-seat, four-wheel-drive one. Although all Captivas are comfortable and well equipped, they don't lead the class when it comes to efficiency and the range-topping LTZ specification can be quite expensive.
Despite its name, it seemed like the Chevrolet Captiva was merely content as the wallflower of the compact crossover segment. While everyone else boasted head-turning good looks or formidable performance (or both), the Captiva had an available diesel variant and seven seats. Sure, it was enough for a select few to part money for one, but the vast majority of Filipinos passed on it. Well, Chevrolet has finally understood that having a diesel and seven seats maybe good for few, but an updated styling and some spec tweaks are much more important. Enter the 2015 Captiva, a compact crossover that’s now slicker than your average. While it’s not a real fuel miser, at least it handles tidily. Along with the new engine, the 2015 Captiva receives a re-tweaked suspension. Chevy calls it a soft ride suspension, but it feels firmer than the pre-facelifted version. It sharpens the road manners, but the flip side is the ride isn’t as relaxed as it should be for this class. Bumps get easily transmitted into the cabin which isn’t helped by the less than solid feeling body structure. It doesn’t flop or flip through corners, but the overall experience is still very pedestrian. The steering isn’t as quick and feels rather numb, mainly because it still relies on a non-variable ratio hydraulic assist steering, but at least there’s still good grip. Unlike more modern offerings, it doesn’t have stability control to speak of and this causes the front tires to chirp at full throttle. But at least the torque steer is largely controlled.
